Avengers World #3Review

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The wind blows, and the fire rises.

By Jesse Schedeen

Reading Avengers World #3, it's enough to wonder why Marvel has had so much trouble finding any traction with its martial arts heroes in recent decades. If Shang-Chi were always written like this, he'd easily have the fanbase to support an ongoing series or two. But alas.

Shang-Chi has consistently fared well since joining Jonathan Hickman's large cast of Avengers. Nothing has changed with the debut of Avengers World. If anything, he's only better off for having a starring role in this more character-focused series. Issue #3 revolves entirely around the big showdown between Shang-Chi and another of Marvel's legendary martial artists - the Gorgon. Punching aliens and robots into dust is one thing, but even Shang-Chi fears the might of the former Hydra leader who can turn men to stone and weaves a deadly ballet of carnage. And so Hickman and Nick Spencer paint a portrait of an honorable warrior going up against an insurmountable opponent.

The martial arts action in this issue is sublime, thanks in no small part to Stefano Caselli's dynamic visuals. This series only further proves that Caselli is the ideal artist to work with Gorgon and the Hand. But propping up the action is a terrific glimpse into Shang-Chi's mindset. The flashes to his ancestors and mentors as he steels himself for the big fight are effective in both fleshing out his character and further building tension. By the end, you'll be craving a martial arts-themed Avengers book from this creative team.